maxim



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1:.

H. S. MAXIM. APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING, POINTiNG, 0R TRAINING CANNON.

No. 407,487. Patented July 2-3, 1889.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. s. MAXIM. APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING, POINTING, OR TRAINING CANNON.

Patented July 23, 1889.

RAAAmga ig (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. S. MAXIM. APPARATUS FORADJUSTING, POINTING, 0R TRAINING CANNON.

No. 407.487. Patented July 23, 1889 lummir/l/l WIIIIIIIIW HY MA 4Sheets-Sheet 4..

iNo Model.)

A H. S. MAXIM. APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING, POINTING, 0R TRAINING CANNON.No. 407,487. Patented July 23; 1889 NiTE HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, OF LONDON,ENGLAND.

srnorrros'rron formingpart of Letters Patent no. 407,487, dated rui 'ee,less. 7

Application filed August. 22,1887. Serial No. 247.511. (No model.)Patented in England October 17,1884,l l'o. 13,7821 in France April 10,1885, No. 168,195; in Italy June 6. 1885, No. 18, i66; in Belgium June20, 1885,1io. 69,347; in Sweden August 1'7, 1885. No. 882, and inAustria-Hungary August 19, 1885, No. 35 and Ho. 1,751.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, mechanical engineer, a citizenof the United States of America, and a resident of London, England, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Adjusting,

No. 35 and-No. 1,751, dated August 19, 1885;-

ltaly, No. 18,-l66, dated June 6, 1885, and Sweden, dated August 17,1885, No. 882,) of which the following is a specification, referencebeinghad to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in and apparatus for efiecting bythe aid of electricity the operations requisite in adjusting, pointing,or training cannon or heavy guns, either on land or on a ship or vessel.Heretofore there has been no pointing or training gear for large gunswhich can be operated with sufficient rapidity to allow such guns to beproperly directed or pointed at torpedoboats or other objects moving ata high speed and withina short range. Moreover, considerable skill isrequired in the manipulation of the apparatus usually employed fortraining large guns.

My invention isdesigned to provide for the performance of all therequisite operations with great rapidity by any person of ordinary skilland intelligence.

l employ electric motors for adjusting or turning the gun horizontallyand vertically, and in some cases for moving the said gun longitudinallyto and fro, and I provide acoutrolling apparatus whereby the currentscan be varied in respect of their strength and direction by the simplemovement of a lever or other suitable device, according to the desireddirection and rapidity of movement of the gun. I prefer to so arrangethe said lever or device that by turning the same around or about itsfulcrum in either directionthe neccssary contacts will be made forcausing the gun to be turned in the same direction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a sideelevation, of a gun provided with means for working it according to myinvention. Fig. 3 is diagram showing the controlling apparatus inhorizontal section andillustrating the electrical connections betweenthe said apparatus and the motor for training or traversing the gun.Fig. at is a dialongitudinal central section and illustrating theelectrical connections between the said ap pressing the gun. Fig. 5illustrates a controlling device ofsomewhat modified construction, thefigure being a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 6 is a centralhorizontal section of Fig. 5.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout thedrawings.

A indicates a base-plate, upon which the guncarriage B is supported bymeans of the rollers B, so that the said carriage is free to rotatethereon.

C C are checks or side pieces forming parts of the gun-carriage B.

D is the gun, which is mounted in the said cheeks or side pieces. Thesecheeks or side. pieces are arranged to slide to and fro upon or body ofthe carriage, and are provided with hydraulic buffers. E for checkingthe recoil of the gun.

The mechanism for training or traversing the gun is as follows-that isto say: A wormthe said worm wheel. This worm is fixed upon a shaft G,which is carried in suitable bearings attached to or forming part otthecarriage B. A toothed wheel H is fixed upon the shaft G and gears with apinion l, fixed upon a shaft 1, which is made with square ends, so thatwheels or crank-handles can be or traverse the gun. 'lhe'pinion 1 gearswith shaft J but capable of being connected therewith. by a clutch K.This clutch is operated by means of a forked lever K, connected by.

a rod or link K with a lever K which is pivparatus and the motor forelevating and deplaced thereon and turned by hand to train.

a toothed wheel .1, mounted loosely upon a gram showing the saidapparatus in vertical inclined planes at the top of the main portionwheel F is firmly secured to the base-plate A, and a worm or endlessscrew G is geared with.

' clutch K.

oted at K and is coupled to a nut K", arranged tobe moved to and frobetween suitable guides by a screw-spindle K. A toothed wheel L is fixedupon the shaft J and gears with a pinion M, fixed on the armature-shafth! of an electric motorrh. This motor is connected, as hereinafterdescribed, with an elec-- carriage B, a pinion N is also mounted looselyon the shaft J, and is arranged to be connected therewith, whennecessary, by the v This pinion gears with a toothed wheel 0, fixed on ashaft 0, on which is also fixed a pinion P, gearing with a rack 0,formed on or secured to the under side of the checks 0.

The clutch K should act by friction, so that,

I although the gun can be moved slowly to and fro by the motor h, yetthe rapid recoil of the gun will not impart any movement to the saidmotor. In some cases I use the motor It only for training or traversingthe gun and provide a separate electric motor for moving the gunlongitudinally to and fro.

The electricity which I employ is generated by dynamo-electric machinesor other suitable means. I

The mechanism for elevating or depressing the gun is as follows, viz: Atoothed segment Q is firmly attached to the gun and is geared with atoothed wheel R, fixed upon a shaft R,

carried in bearings in one of the checks 0.

The wheel R is geared with a toothed wheel S, fixed upon the shaft S",on which is also fixed a worm-wheel T, which is geared with a worm orendless screw U. This worm is fixed upon a shaft U, which is geared bymeans of the bevel-wheels U U with a shaft V, on which is fixed aspur-wheel V.

k is an electric motor for operating the mechanism for elevating ordepressing the gun. This motor is arranged tobe geared with the saidmechanism by means of a pinion .V, which is keyed to'the shaft of themotor In in such a manner that it will be rotated therewith, but is freeto slide to and fro thereon. 'A forked lever V is arranged incombination with the pinion V4 for the purpose of putting the mechanismin and out of gear with the motor k. A hand-wheel W is fixed on theshaft V to enable the operations of elevating and depressing the gun tobe effected by hand when necessary.

The controlling apparatus is carried by-the brackets Y, attached to thecarriage B, which brackets also support the motor k. The saidcontrolling apparatus is more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which(1 indicates a hollow cylinder or case of insulating material.

b is a lever arranged within the said cylinder or case and connectedtherewith by a universal jointat b.

' c c c are springs, which are secured in a block d, of insulatingmaterial, within the hollow cylinder at. Thesesprings arearranged ingroups of three, as shown, or in any other convenient manner. Betweenthe springs in each group are arranged resistance-coils e e.

ff areconductors inserted in the cylinder a and projecting slightlywithin the same. These conductors are in contact with or form part ofthe terminals f f f ffflf f A resistance-coil e 'is arranged between thespring 0 of each group and the terminal with which it is connected.There are eight sets .or groups of the said springs c c 0 and each setor group thereof is provided with resistances e e e and is connectedwith one of the said terminals. The terminals f f f f are connected withone pole of the electric generator g by the wires 1 2 3 4. The terminalf is connected by the wire 5 ,with one end of the field-magnet coils'ofthe motor h for traversing or training the gun, and the terminal f isconnected by the wire 6 with the other end of the said coils 'i z areconductors inserted into the lever b and projecting slightly from theexterior surface thereof into close proximity to the springs 0. Theseconductors are in contact with or form part of the terminals 2" 1" 2' t"1' 'i '2" 13. ,The terminal a" is connected by the wire 7 with the wire5, and the terminal 2' is connected by the wire 8 with the wire 6. Theterminal 11 is connected by the wire 9 with one of the brushes of themotor h, and the terminal '5 is connected by the wire 10 with the wire9. The other brush of the said motor is connected by the wire 11 withthe generator g.

The terminal) is connected by the wire 12 with one end of'thefield-magnet coils of the motor 70 for elevating or depressing the gun.

' The terminal 11 is connected by the wire 13 with the other end of thesaid coils. The terminal 1' is connected by the wire 14 with the wire12, and the terminal 1? is connected by the wire 15 with the wire 13.The terminal f is connected by the wire 16 with one of the brushes ofthe motor 7c, and the terminal i is connected by the wire 17 with thewire 16. The other brush of the said motor is connected by the wire 18with the returnwire 11, a'small resistance (of three ohms, for example)being interposed between the said brush and the wire 11.

The traversing or training of. the gun is effected by the means-abovedescribed, as follows-that is to say: When it is desired to turn the gunso that its breech movs from right to left, the lever bis, turned aroundor about its fulcrum inthis direction, as indicated.by the arrow in Fig.3;unt-il the terminals t" z" are put into "electrical connection withthe corresponding springs c. The our- IIO 4 v wire 6 to the terminal fand through-tile rent from the generator g then flows through the wire 1to theterminal f, and through the corresponding resistances e e e,spring 0, and conductor '5 to the terminal 6'. From this terminalthecurrent flows through the wires 7 and 5 and through the field-magnetcoils h of the motor 71., thence through the corresponding resistances ee 6, spring 0, and conductor 2' to the terminal 1', thence through thewires 10 and 9, to and through the armature-coils, and through thereturn-wire 11 to the generator 9. The motor will thus be caused torotate in the direction necessary for moving the gun, as above stated.By continuing to move the lever b in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 3, the said springso will be pressed against the springsc, and these springs will in turn be brought intoc-ontact with thesprings 0 The springs 0 will then be pressed against the projecting endsof the conductors f. It will therefore be seen thatone or more of theresistances e. e 8 will be cut out of the circuit according to the anglethrough which the lever b is turned. o

Then it'is desired to turn the gun so that its breech moves from left toright, the lever h is turned in the direction opposite to that indicatedby the arrow in Fig. 3. The current from the generator 9thenflowsthrough thewire 2to the terminal f and through thecorresponding springs and resistances and conductor i to the terminal '5thence by wires 8 and 6 to the field-magnet coils 'h of the motor h, andthrough these coils. It then flows through the wire 5 to the-terminal? fand through the corresponding springs and resistances and, conductor 2'to the terminal 2' thence byw lre 9 to and through the armaturecoils,and through the return-wire 11 to the generator g; but it will be seenthat in this case the current flows through the field-magnets h in theopposite direction to that in which it flows when the lever 12 is turnedin the direction indicated by the arrow, while the direction of thecurrent in the-armaturecoils is unchanged. Therefore the direction ofrotation of the motor will be reversed and the gun will beiturned,asrequired.

By raising or depressing the lever b at its rear end the necessarycontacts can be made for causing the motor to rotate in either directionfor the pn rpose of elevating or depressing the gun. with the motor I:for this purpose are illustrated in Fig. 4, and are somewhat similar toderstood by referring to Fig. 4. .Moreover, by

moving the lever h obliquelyin either direction the necessarycontact-scan be made for causing the current toiiow through the fieldmagnets of both the motors h and k, so that the gunw-iil be adjusted orturned horizontelly and vertically and will move in the same ient deviceto fire the gun.

The electrical connections direction as the lever. Therefore the gun canbe turned in either direction bymeans of the electric motors by thesimple movement of the lever 12 in the same direction, and by pressingthe said lever with greater orlless force against the springs c theresistance of the circuits can be regulated at will, according to therapidity with which it is. desired to alter the position of the gun.-

In the device or apparatus shown in Figs.

3 and 4 the direction in which the current fiows through the coils ofthe field-magnets is reversed in order to reverse the motion of themotor, the direction of the fiow of the current in the armature-coilsremaining unchanged. tions are so arranged that the direction of theflow of the current in the armature-coils will be reversed, that in thefield-magnet coils remaining unchanged. Moreover, I have shown in thesefigures three contact-springs in each group or series; but it is obviousthat I might use any other suitable number of the said springs.

In Fig. 4 I have also shown very simple means for firing the gun byelectricity immediately it is adjusted to the firing position. For thispurpose I employ a pistol butt or handle Z, which serves for themanipulation of the lever 19. I also provide a trigger m in connectionwith the said lever. This trigger is electrically connected with onepole of the generator 9 by the wire 19, in which is interposed anelectro-magnetn, and the said trigger is adapted to make contact whenpulled with a terminal or contact-piece 0, connected by the wire 20 withthe other pole of the said generator. with a movable core n, which iscoupled to one arm of a bent lever p, pivoted atp. The

If desired, however, the connec' The electro-magnet n is made.

lot

log

other arm of this lever is suitably arranged for acting upon a hammer orother conven- It; is obvious, however, thatthe electric current may beemployed in any other suitable manner forfiring the gun when the triggeran is pulled.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of the device. orapparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4.. In these figures q is a box or case,of insulating material, in which are secured four groups or series ofmetal strips or pieces 7 r r W. The said strips or pieces in each groupor series are connected by resistances s s s, but are otherwiseinsulated A shaft 25 is arranged cen the other pole of the generator.The metal tag , as are required for actuating the motor forstrips orpieces 7' also serve as terminals, and are connected in any suitablemanner with the motor.

The box or case q is filled or partly filled with water or other liquid,so that the electrical contacts will be made and broken-in the saidliquid. I thus provide for preventing sparking when contact is brokenbetween the arms t t and the pieces 7' 'r r r. This provision is veryimportant when strong currents are used-for example, such currentstraining or traversing the gun.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6 can be used in combination witheither the motorfor elevating ordepressing the gun or that fortraversing or training the gun. In some cases I combine the saidapparatus with a device constructed substantially as described withreference to Figs. 3 and 4, but without the springs and terminals at thesides of the said device, so that the raising or depressing of the leverb or the rotation of the shaft 15 thereby will make the requiredconnections for working the gun, as above described.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I provide meanswhereby the aiming or pointing of cannon or heavy guns can be eifectedwith great facility, rapidity, and accuracy by one man without anyspecial knowledge or skill in the manipulation of the apparatusemployed-for working the gun. It will be seen, moreover, that withelectrical apparatus such as that above described or other electricaldevices for changing or regulating the current in the diflt'erentcircuits it will be possible to follow the course of arapidly-approachin g torpedo-boat or other object and fire effectivelyupon the same with guns throwing projectiles of the largest size.

As a large amount of electrical energy can be conveyed through a smallflexible wire, it is evident that the apparatus necessary for theworking of my invention will be much more convenient than hydraulic gearfor which large,-strong, and rigid pipes are necessary. An electricmotor weighing one hillbdred-weight occupies very little space and willdo the work of about seven men. My apparatus is therefore compact, doesnot greatly encumber the deck or platform on which .it stands, and isbut little liable to accident or disarrangement'. Moreover, whenrequired, the electricity will be available for other purposes thanthose above specified.

There are many well-k nown ways of mounting cannon and heavy guns uponsupports that'are capable of horizontal and vertical adjustment, andvarious kinds of gearing have been employed to secure the necessarymechanical advantage to enable the said supports to be readily moved orcontrolled in the operation of pointing and training the cannon. Myinvention, however, does not reside, broadly, in the combination, withsuch gears, as the means of operating them, of an electro-magneticmotor.

I am also aware. that electro-motors have been combined with gearingused for other purposes, and I do not claim to have disco'vered any newor unexpected action resulting from their application to this specialpurpose broadly; but.my invention consists in the combination, with thetwo electro-magnetic motors adapted to operate the training-gears of acannon, of independent circuits or, what I is obviously the same, twoindependent branches of a circuit each including one of the motors, anda circuit controller and reverser connected with or included in bothcircuits and by the manipulation of which the motors are simultaneouslyor successively, and in either case independently, controlled both as totheir speed and direction of rotation. This combination in itsapplication to the purpose herein'set forth secures new andhighly-important results, as I have hereinbefore shown.

What I claim is- I 1. The combination, with a gun and gun-carriage, ofan elcctro-magnetic motor connected with the carriage, and gearing forcommunicating motion from the said motorto the gun, whereby the gun maybe elevated or depressed.

2. The combination, with a gun-carriage, of, an electro-magnetic motorconnected therewith, and gearing for communicating motion from saidmotor to the carriage, whereby the gun may be trained, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the controllinggears of the adjustable supportsof a cannon, of electro-magnetic motors engaging, respectively, withsuch gears and adapted by their rotation to impart movement to thesupports through the gears, a generator for producing the current tooperate the motors, independent circuits including said motors, and acircuit controller and reverser connected with or included insaidcircuits and adapted to vary the strength and direction of thecurrents therein, as herein set forth.

4. The combination, with the vertically and horizontally adjustablesupports of a cannon,

and independent sets or systems of gears for Ito adjusting the'same forpointing and training the cannon, of two electro,-magnetic-.motorsengaging, respectively, with said gears and adapted by their rotationto. impart movement .to' the supports through the gears, a

generator for producing the current to operate the motors, independentcircuitconneotions between the generator and the motors, and a circuitcontroller and reverser connected with or included in said circuits andadapted to vary the strength and direction of the currents therein, asset forth.

5. The combination, with and vertically adjustable supports of a cannon,of two electro-magnetic motors and intermediate gearing between saidsupports and the horizontally the motors, respectively, for pointing andtraining the cannon through the action of the motors, agenerator forproducing the current that operates the motors, circuits from thegenerator including the motors, respectively, rheostats or variableresistances and switch terminals in each of said circuits, and a contact lever or handle operatively combined therewith and adapted by itsmovement-to vary the rheostats and switch-connections and therebycontrol the strength and direction of the currents in themotor-circuits, as herein set forth. v

6. The combination, with the gun D, of the rack C, movable with the gunon its carriage,

the shaft J ,and rotary electro-magnetic motor L, gearing therewith andmounted on the carriage, the pinion F on shaft and engaging with therack'=C, the gear-wheelO,

engaging with'a loose pinion on shaft J and the controlling-clutch K,for operatively connecting and disconnecting the shafts J and 0', as setforth.

7. The combination, with the gun D, of the worm-wheel F, securedhorizontally to the base A, the shaft J, and the electro-magnetic motorgeared with the same, mounted on the gun-carriage, the intermediategearing between the wheel F and the shaft J and the clutch K, forthrowing. said gear into or out of operation, as herein set forth.

8. The combination, with the gun D, of the worm-wheel F, securedhorizontally to the base A,'the shaft J and the electro-magnetic motorgeared therewith, mounted on the guncarriage, the worm-wheel G, engagingwith wheel F, the shaft G, carrying said worm, the gear-wheels H I J,connecting shafts G and J and the clutch K, for disconnecting the shaftJ from the gears specified.

9. The combination, with the gun D, of the toothed segment Q, secured tothe side thereof, the worm U, its shaft U", and the rotaryelect-ro-magnetic motor mounted on the carriage and geared'to'the shaftU, the gearwheels RS, and worm-wheel T between the segment Q and worm U,as herein described. 10. The combination, with the horizontally andvertically adjustable supports of a cannon, of two electromagneticmotors and in termediate gearing between the said supports and themotors, respectively,'of' a generator for supplying the current to runthe motors, a circuit controller and reyerser for varying the strengthand direction of the currents transmitted to the motors, and anoperating or controlling handle therefor formed or provided with apistol grip or butt, as herein set forth.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM. Witnesses:

Ron'r. M. Hoornn, DA ID T. S. FULLER.-

